By: Elder Mark Wattenbarger
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? Gen 25:32
This is the earliest record we have of these two brothers following the background history on their birth. We know that Jacob grabbed hold of Esau’s heel (Gen 25:26) at birth, and from thence forward there would be a rivalry between the two which would ultimately never abate. What is striking about this event is Esau’s narrow view of time; his shortsightedness is alarming. The worldly attitude of shortsightedness and “instant gratification” is still all too common among men. I want to briefly consider the mental motivation in Esau’s thought process and compare it to what we find in today’s society.
Esau is what might be called a man’s man. He hunts; he is of the field and is perhaps the consummate outdoorsman. He probably knew and understood the world’s creatures and he was the favorite of his father Isaac. It appears that he was a man of action, not willing to let any insult go unpunished (see his reaction after Jacob usurps his blessing in Gen 27:41). In addition to all this, Esau had little to no foresight of what was in front of him and the immediacy of the world around him was all he cared for. All Esau knew was that he was hungry.
When Esau comes back to his parents’ tent to eat, there is his little brother Jacob making a meal. And then Jacob, that conniver, makes him a deal. If Esau will trade his “birthright” he can have some pottage. And Esau responds in the worldliest way imaginable. With no forethought he responds as quoted above. The birthright is gone but what does it matter to Esau because he is no longer hungry? Esau will learn that visible benefits, or that which is seen, is often overshadowed by that which is unseen. Esau lost an inheritance and was disregarded by God in exchange for a bowl of soup.
First, consider briefly the effect of what is unseen. It is a term borrowed from Frederic Bastiat, a 19th century French economist. His theory involved the idea that an economic cause can give rise to both a visible, immediate effect (that which is seen) and an invisible, sometimes a series of invisible, unfolding consequences (that which is unseen). Accordingly, a cause, if not properly analyzed, can and often does have very damaging, unintended consequences. For example, to use economics to explain, when property is taken from one individual and given to another, for whatever reason, there is no increase in the total amount of property. It is like a person filling a bucket up with water from one end of a pool and dumping the bucket in the other end of the pool.
Esau, fulfilling the most immediate desire to fill an empty belly, gives up his birthright for food. The immediate result is that he has eaten and is now satisfied. This is that which is seen.
However, to satisfy his hunger, Esau has sold his birthright. He no longer looks forward to his inheritance and will not be the leader of his family. This is that which is unseen.
To appreciate that which is unseen one must briefly consider the meaning of a birthright. The one possessing the birthright would be the head of the family. At this time in history, it meant that the one who had it would be the priest of the family. Furthermore, in this specific family, it meant that the one who had the birthright would be the ancestor of Christ. So what value did Esau place on this? It was worth a bowl of soup.
Ultimately, Esau would indeed serve Jacob as God foretold. He would not be the head of the family or be the spiritual leader of a nation which would lead to Christ. The unseen effect is trouble, strife and constant warfare between his descendants and those of Jacob, his brother. Waste and famine, war and ultimately extermination would be the lot of the Edomites. Was it worth the soup?
Sadly, this attitude of instant gratification, regardless of the consequences, is an attitude alive and far too prevalent in the world today. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun! (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Today, we see men frittering away time and money to satisfy the desires of their flesh, giving no consideration to what is lost by such actions. But wait, says wisdom, how do you plan to pay for the consequences? Consequences are nothing to me, says man, I will deal with them later. Does this hypothetical conversation sound familiar? Have you had this talk with a child, with a decision maker in the community, with yourself? You are in foul company to take the part of Esau in this narrative; as a child of the King much better is expected of you.
How often have we heard, “This will do so much good and it will bring some good result or some visible outcome for our benefit.” And almost as often, just as Esau lost all claim to his “unseen” inheritance, lost is the benefit of something “unseen” as a result of uncaring and shortsighted actions.
Let’s bring this right down to brass tacks, as my father would say. Every 67 inch flat screen plasma TV is a few car payments, some food, or a child’s education. Every minute spent watching that TV is a minute lost in the pages of the history book being written by the lives of family and friends. Every moment spent doing something to satisfy self is a moment in which the counsel of God is disregarded and effectively selling a precious birthright for something as insignificant as a bowl of soup. How dismal, how foolish, how vain we are!
That which is seen is the easier fruit to reach. The bitter fruit of consequence, that which is unseen, is revealed in two very different ways. Often we learn through experience. Experience knows no mercy, is rough and harsh in its lessons. Experience is often a brutal teacher and never takes a holiday. It forces us to learn by making us feel the effects of our actions.
We can also learn from foresight. Foresight, the ability to look ahead and perceive possible problems or obstacles, is a much gentler teacher, to paraphrase Bastiat once again. I have often heard from trustworthy men that good judgment comes from experience and, sadly, experience comes from exercising bad judgment.
The Lord is patient and longsuffering. In all our efforts, in our daily lives, as citizens of heaven and pilgrims in this life, let us “be not conformed to this world” and its way of seeking the low hanging fruit and instead “be transformed”, thinking like the godly and exercising the forethought with which God has blessed us above every creature. No beast can consider the unseen and act on foresight. We are unlike any other creatures in God’s creation! Let Esau have his soup. Let us instead be like Christ who, with foresight and the ability to see the results of His actions, looked to the unseen consequence of His loving sacrifice for His people.
When we had no way to secure a heavenly home, Jesus, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” and sat “down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Let us look to that which is unseen and live the way Jesus would have us live! Jesus gave us an example, the example of foresight and thoughtful action.
Published: 2012-04-15 by MW